Miley is concerned that advertisers are using subliminal messages to make her buy their products. Based on the information in your textbook, what should you tell her?

A) "You're right, subliminal messages are very powerful."
B) "It's unclear; almost no research has been done on subliminal perception."
C) "Don't worry; people cannot perceive subliminal stimuli at all."
D) "There is little evidence that subliminal messages can be used to persuade people to do anything."

Answer: D
Rationale: Many studies have demonstrated that people can be affected by subliminal stimuli. However, there is no evidence that such messages have much effect, and certainly not to the extent that many people fear. At best, flashing a brief message on a screen can have a very temporary effect on thought.